tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1244044300216345080.post5789824156283200303..comments2024-03-04T10:20:10.154+00:00Comments on Anna Chen: Madam Miaow Says: The Opium War by Julia Lovell book review: Smoke and mirrorsMadam Miaowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10237951918529887305noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1244044300216345080.post-38349792069418940502019-06-22T11:21:28.223+01:002019-06-22T11:21:28.223+01:00It's several years after the fact, but as some...It's several years after the fact, but as someone who recently read the book and found it interesting, I wanted to thank you for writing this critique - there's scarcely any, and that's a sad state of being for any acclaimed book.<br /><br />I just wanted to ask you the question, is the book at least right as far as the historical details go - stuff like the silver shortage leading to unrest or the emperor repeatedly sacking his commisioners for their failure in dealing with the english?didntdohishomeworkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03689285771510717667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1244044300216345080.post-9255176698959162162014-11-05T11:41:17.292+00:002014-11-05T11:41:17.292+00:00Wanted to commend J.Y Wong's comprehensively e...Wanted to commend J.Y Wong's comprehensively erudite treatment of the second Opium War:<br />Deadly Dreams and the Arrow War (1956-60) in China. He's also fittingly written a review of Lovell's book, generously suggesting that it was her 'mistakes' that put her 'in grave danger of being an apologist for British imperialism.'Elahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05127256693071745977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1244044300216345080.post-63980459703484002752014-10-28T18:10:43.134+00:002014-10-28T18:10:43.134+00:00Oh, dear lord. That video is tragic, Ty. However, ...Oh, dear lord. That video is tragic, Ty. However, there are forelock-tugging house-slaves everywhere and always will be. All we can do is marvel and blow raspberries whenever they embarrass themselves like this. Re publishing my review more widely, I'm cheered by the fact that it will turn up in any online search for the book and people can make up their own minds based on the argument. Anyone who wishes to publish it in the interests of the debate is most welcome.Madam Miaowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10237951918529887305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1244044300216345080.post-44429823334010108112014-10-28T17:10:38.325+00:002014-10-28T17:10:38.325+00:00Thanks, Madam Miaow.
Irritated by her subtle but ...Thanks, Madam Miaow. <br />Irritated by her subtle but resolute defence of the British empire, I looked online for Julia Lovell <br />and was shocked by the tremendous awe caused by the Opium War: <br /><br />https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Zb-aecx4xQ<br /><br />As you'll see, she was feted in HK at the launch of her book.<br />But that is not all. The moderator at the launch, a bloke called Chip (not sure if he's just a potato chip or a French Fry) is an even greater apologist for British empire!<br /><br />At the end of the talk he tells her that "as beneficiaries of the Opium War" (he seems quite presumptuous about his self-conferred right to speak for others), he would like her to return to Britain to convey to the British people how grateful "we are", and that "we" feel sentimental about the times pre-1997 .<br /><br />At some point in the talk, he even tells Julia Lovell to dispense with any guilt she might have still harboured about Britain's culpability in the Opium War.<br /><br />Its incredible and painful to watch, the self-loathing and sycophancy. <br /><br />Back to Julia: when asked about 'unequal' treaties (around the 1hr 11min mark), she remarks something to the effect that although they represent a loss of political and economic sovereignty, these treaty ports actually became hubs for practices and freedoms of all sorts i.e. centres of political, cultural, economic vibrancy. <br /><br />See how subtly these pro-imperialists make their case? They completely side-step the moral question of the British imperialist enterprise by referring, retroactively, to its (incidental) 'positive' consequences. It's a little like absolving a rapist post-hoc when the child produced from his act of depravity turns out to be a genius. <br /><br />In this amoral scheme, the ends ('civilization') are absolute and so they justify the means, whatever their costs. There is complete amorality. <br /><br />Obviously, what seems to be sadder than the perfidious colonial apologetics of the likes of Lovell is the subscription to such ideology by the very subjects - the 'victims' - of empire. This is quite evident from the clip, with virtually every comment from the audience expressing views supportive of Lovell's, seemingly oblivious to its racism and pernicious implications.<br /><br />Where is Fanon, Nandy, Memmi or Cesaire when one needs them? It's almost as if the colonized have been so deformed by their colonization they can't recognise the phenomena even when it lands on their faces!<br /><br />Again, I'd urge you to consider publishing your review more widely.Elahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05127256693071745977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1244044300216345080.post-9803712028021812222014-10-28T15:32:48.740+00:002014-10-28T15:32:48.740+00:00Thank you, Ty. The absence of analytical criticism...Thank you, Ty. The absence of analytical criticism of this book was most disappointing. Academia and media asleep at the wheel.Madam Miaowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10237951918529887305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1244044300216345080.post-48979352626941640092014-10-28T12:34:08.338+00:002014-10-28T12:34:08.338+00:00I felt a certain sense of uneasiness after reading...I felt a certain sense of uneasiness after reading the first 15 pages. By the time i got to the end of a hundred, i was keen to read a critical review. Yours was the only one i came across and i'm grateful since it affirms the sentiments i was feeling. It's a paean to Empire, certainly an attempt to absolve Britain's culpability in state-sanctioned brutality and murder. It is racist and takes a completely amoral stance - the very posture required by pro-empire types. Lovell is not unlike a Niall Ferguson - how could anyone be so Brutish, one might ask - perhaps a tad more subtle. Thanks for your review. It deserves to be widely read. Ever considered publishing it in academic circles?<br />best wishesElahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05127256693071745977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1244044300216345080.post-82505783491290387422012-05-21T15:53:29.346+01:002012-05-21T15:53:29.346+01:00After reading your review of this book I was intri...After reading your review of this book I was intrigued to see how it had been reviewed elsewhere. I read the reviews at The Indy and the Guardian which are both, basically, unquestioning explanations of the opium wars, presumably just abridged versions of the book - hardly enlightening and they certainly don't critique the book in any meaningful way. One would have hoped for more from a professor at SOAS and a supposed expert on China.<br /><br />However, thankfully there was Madam Miaow to redress the balance a bit! Thanks for a great, and informative, review.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1244044300216345080.post-30842504622422715602012-05-19T17:29:21.671+01:002012-05-19T17:29:21.671+01:00She didn't actually use those words and there&...She didn't actually use those words and there's lots of thought in there but it seems to be in service to an agenda that I find quite horrible. It certainly is a revision, though, and, from where I'm standing, looks pretty right wing.Madam Miaowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10237951918529887305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1244044300216345080.post-52591219277552826722012-05-19T16:41:15.009+01:002012-05-19T16:41:15.009+01:00Excellent review!! I lurve Lovell's "all ...Excellent review!! I lurve Lovell's "all as bad as one another" as it is such an almighty cop-out along with a total abdication of thought and analysis. But what can you expect from a right-wing revisionist and apologist for British imperialism....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1244044300216345080.post-79317429109269784872012-05-19T16:40:03.474+01:002012-05-19T16:40:03.474+01:00Excellent review!! I lurve Lovell's "all ...Excellent review!! I lurve Lovell's "all as bad as one another" as it is such an almighty cop-out along with a total abdication of thought and analysis. But what can you expect from a right-wing revisionist and apologist for British imperialism....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1244044300216345080.post-5291108024336787642012-05-19T16:34:31.951+01:002012-05-19T16:34:31.951+01:00Excellent review!!
I lurve Lovell"s view re...Excellent review!! <br /><br />I lurve Lovell"s view re "all bad as each other" as it is such an almighty cop-out and a total abdication of thought and analysis. But that's right-wing revision for you!!Louisefeministahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08279991897445225597noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1244044300216345080.post-38528213518335968292012-05-18T19:17:03.876+01:002012-05-18T19:17:03.876+01:00Excellent piece - makes me want to read the book!Excellent piece - makes me want to read the book!Paul Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03671836029938158273noreply@blogger.com